In a significant move to reduce preventable deaths, the Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has launched a comprehensive training program designed to equip over 20,000 individuals with essential Basic Life Support (BLS) skills.
The initiative, designed for both health workers and laypersons, seeks to improve emergency response nationwide and lower mortality rates from sudden cardiac arrest and other critical conditions.
The program was officially launched at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) in Sagamu, during a workshop organised by NARD in partnership with the Damilola Adebola Cardiovascular Foundation.
Representing the Chief Medical Director of OOUTH, Dr. Oluwabunmi Fatugase, Dr. Ibukun Ogundele emphasized the critical importance of the training. She highlighted that the burden of cardiac arrest is particularly common among black populations and stressed that equipping health workers and the public with emergency handling skills is vital. She expressed great hope for the country, noting that the initiative led by young doctors would build capacity and empower even laypeople to confidently perform BLS, ultimately saving lives.
Echoing this sentiment, the President of NARD, Dr. Tope Osundara, revealed that many lives have been lost to cardiac arrest, respiratory disorders, and other life-threatening conditions due to a lack of immediate help.
He explained that the core objective of the training is to teach people how to manage such emergencies effectively and encouraged participants to become trainers themselves, thereby multiplying the program’s impact. The Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association, Dr. Ogunjimi Lukman, also commended the organisers, stating that access to BLS knowledge is a lifesaver and urged the training to be extended to every member of society, as anyone can learn these crucial skills.
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cc: Daily Post NG
